Addressing lawyers convention in here, Iftikhar said all decisions must be taken in accordance with the Constitution so that people’s interest and rights were protected as enshrined in it. He maintained that people’s rights were to be protected to expect patriotism from them.

He said that it pained him that people were still suffering despite the fact that court decisions were in place but awaiting implementation. He said that he had always tried to ensure implementation of his decisions.

He lauded the lawyers’ struggle and said that it had assumed international proportion. He said that their movement had entered the most crucial phase. Addressing the gathering, Supreme Court Bar Association President Ali Ahmed Kurd said that their historic sit-in would continue till the restoration of the deposed judges.

Ch Aitzaz Ahsan said that lawyers condemned imposition of Governor’s rule in the Punjab. He said these decisions would harm not only democracy but also his party, the PPP. Hasnain Qaisrani adds: Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was given a rousing welcome at Dera Airport on Wednesday afternoon.

Hundreds of lawyers, workers of various political parties, civil society members showered flower petals on him and other lawyers’ leaders as they came out of the airport lounge. Provincial minister for local government Sardar Dost Muhammad Khosa, office- bearers of Layyah, Rajanpur, Muzaffargarh districts bar associations were among those who welcomed the deposed chief justice of Pakistan.

The convoys comprising coaches, wagons, cars from various remote areas of Rojhan, Rajanpur, Taunsa Sharif, Karore Lal Eissan, Choubara, Layyah, Kot Addu, Alipur and Jatoi had started arriving at Dera Ghazi Khan in the morning to welcome the deposed chief justice. The political parties including the PML-N, the JI, the PTI, the Jamiat Ahle Hadith, various students’ organisations remained fully active to mobilise masses for the reception.

The PIA flight PK-603 carrying the deposed chief justice arrived at 2.47 pm and was 22 minutes late from its scheduled time. Although the National Highway Authority had not exempted the vehicles from the toll tax from its toll plaza located on Dera-Quetta inter provincial highway near DG Khan Canal, the vehicles were not charged on both way while going to airport and vice versa. The police officials and airport security forces had cordoned off the Dera Ghazi Khan Airport.